India’s medal tally at the U19 Asian Boxing Championships 2025 received a major boost on Thursday as five Indian male boxers punched their way into the semifinals, assuring themselves of at least a bronze.
Their victories come on the heels of seven Indian women having already booked semifinal spots, taking India’s confirmed medal count in the U19 category to 12. The event, taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, is being held alongside the U22 Asian Boxing Championships, offering a dual platform for the country’s most promising young boxers to test their mettle on the continental stage.
Clinical Wins by Indian Men in Bangkok
The day began on a high note as Shivam (55kg) set the tone with a commanding 5:0 victory over Abdulaziz Abdunazarov of Uzbekistan. Displaying superior technique and control, Shivam outboxed his opponent across all three rounds. Next up, Mausam Suhag (65kg) faced a tough challenge from Mukhammed Alimbekov of Kyrgyzstan. In a tightly contested bout, Mausam showed remarkable composure under pressure and edged out a 3:2 split decision to book his place in the last four.
In one of the most dominant performances of the day, Rahul Kundu (75kg) overwhelmed Eunjo Jeong of South Korea with a relentless attacking display. The referee was forced to stop the contest (RSC), underscoring Rahul’s clear superiority. Gaurav (85kg) followed up with a gritty win against Kuang-Yao Cheng of Chinese Taipei. In a tactical contest, Gaurav’s well-placed punches and defense proved enough to secure a place in the semifinals.
The final win of the day came from Hemant Sangwan (90kg), who registered a solid victory over Muhammadrizo Siddikov of Uzbekistan. His sharp counters and ring awareness were key to sealing a convincing win and extending India’s successful run.
One Miss in an Otherwise Perfect Day
India had hoped to round off the day with a clean sweep in the men’s quarterfinals, but Krish (90+kg) fell just short in his bout against Abbas Gharshasbi of Iran. In a close contest, Krish showed resilience but couldn’t edge past the experienced Iranian, who advanced via decision.
India’s Medal Tally So Far
With these latest wins, India is now assured of 12 medals in the U19 category five from the men and seven from the women. This comes in addition to 13 medals already confirmed in the U22 category, where five Indian boxers have advanced to the finals. The performances underline India’s growing strength in the amateur boxing circuit and reflect the success of sustained investment in grassroots development and domestic competitions over recent years.
40-Member Squad Making Its Mark
India has fielded a 40-member contingent at the combined U19 and U22 Asian Championships, comprising 20 boxers in each age group. The squad was carefully selected, featuring a blend of established champions and rising talents who have emerged from national-level tournaments. These Championships are seen as a vital platform for testing India’s boxing depth, particularly in the run-up to major international events like the Youth World Championships, Asian Games, and Olympic qualifiers.
With both the U19 and U22 boxers making deep runs into the tournament, attention now shifts to the semifinal and final bouts. India’s male and female boxers will have the chance not only to add to the medal tally but also to convert bronze assurances into silver and gold — a significant achievement at a continental level.
The semifinal bouts are scheduled to take place over the weekend, with final matches slated early next week.
Summary of Thursday’s U19 Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
Shivam (55kg) def. Abdulaziz Abdunazarov (UZB)
Mausam Suhag (65kg) def. Mukhammed Alimbekov (KGZ)
Rahul Kundu (75kg) def. Eunjo Jeong (KOR)
Gaurav (85kg) def. Kuang-Yao Cheng (TPE)
Hemant Sangwan (90kg) def. Muhammadrizo Siddikov (UZB)
Krish (90+kg) lost to Abbas Gharshasbi (IRI)
With 25 confirmed medals across both age categories so far, India is well on course for one of its best-ever showings at the Asian age-group championships. The focus now turns to the semifinal action, where these young boxers will aim to prove that they’re not just future prospects but champions in the making.
